Reed’s poor form with the bat again cost the 2nd XI dear. Winning the toss and deciding to bat first seemed the obviously thing to do when the home skipper won the toss. The wicket looked a good batting surface. Openers Bas Curtis and Fergus Martin took their time and put the bad ball away with aplomb. Martin in particular looked in good nick. Curtis was the first to go when he stopped on a drive and was caught at point. A decent opening stand of 46 seemed to have set the foundation for a decent total. Unfortunately that became 46-2 the very next ball when Richard Johnson was removed. Ricahrd Barlow and Martin moved the score along to 79 before Barlow was caught. Twenty Eight overs still remained with wickets in hand.
Wigfield has been brought in to the attack and with some good flight he tempted Martin to try and hit over the top only to be caught at mid-off. 94-4 soon became 136-8. Reed scored 40 runs in 12 overs losing those 4 wickets. Roddi Liebenberg and Ben Bowles both got in, but couldn’t get the big score Reed now needed. Marcus Baker struck a lusty 21 before being the last man out for 21. Reed were all out for 161.
The pitched held no dangers so Reed need to bowl tightly. Nicklin had other plans and with some lusty blows looked to take the game away from Reed. He seemed to take a liking to Alex Kelly’s bowling, but Kelly had the final say when he bowled Nicklin for 14 with the score on 19. Kelly struck twice when the total had reached 37 and Reed saw a chink on light. The Flitwick skipper, Summerfield got his side to 84 before playing a very uncharacteristic swipe and being bowled by Julian Fynn. That was the last success for the home side. Bygraves played with confidence and majority to end 67 not out. He was well supported by his Dad who was 33 not out as they completed a comfortable 6 wicket win.
